Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-06

and party should review the procession
as il passed in front of the stand at
3:15 o'clock, but when they came out
Of the mansion on their way to the hall
eight minutes earlier the procession
was passing down Broad street In front
of the hall lot.
The Opening Prayer.
The Masons having occupied the po-
sition assigned them for the perform
apce Of their duties, the exercises were
opened by prayer, led by the Rev. Nj.
y. Hopc. ID. D., pastor of the Second
PRESBYTERIAN church, who said
The earth is Thine, 0 Lord. and the iuines' ,
tbeieof. the world and thcy that dwell therein:
Jbou hast created all things, aud Thou carest
for All that Thou has created. Thou rulest all
things. for Thy Kingdom Is an everlasting kin8-
dom and Thy dominion endureth throughout
"' Wc thereforc worship Thee, we adore Thee,
wo gIorify Thee as God over all, blessed Tor
We bumbly acknowledge our dependence on
Thee, Thy right TO our love anu serv,Je am icp ~
the tribute Of Thanksgiving and praise WHICH
We bling Thee ct this hour.
We remember the days o. old, Thy mercies
| 10 our fathers. Thy goodness IN bringing mem
! 10 this land, Thy kindness In permitung nemi ,i
here TO enjoy tho blessings OF cYli aha ioh, ,,,
| sious liberty. and In enabling them TO lag me
| tonndations OF Just and equitable goyernment'
| nom which we have derived our prosperity
| happiness, aud power os people.
1bon hast made this ancient Commonwealth
4 the mother OF States and OF the men wh05e
wisdom and patriotism vince virsa1 " ara
| ard ON the fields Of conflict. We III up our our
| exes and beneath the shadow OF our Capitol
| we 1ehold the stately monuments OF pasrio.
sta.esmeD and soldiers whose names ~ s,oa ons
| the brightest and purest In human hisloIJ n.a
| wbose memories are the common inheritance'
| NOT cnly OF the citizens OF our own Common-
! xsalib, hut CT all whose hearts beat 10 symps-
| Inv Win exalted worth and unselnsh devo.ion
10 freedom, truth, and justice thiongnou' e., sn,,
| great land from North 70 youth anu from has'
| 10 Wost.
| We recognize Thy ruling hand, not only IA
| ,he memorable annals OF the Comnoh"eaiin.
| hut of The city in which we dwell. we canno'
forget the fiery trials, the uppaIaieea ustsr
| ,e,s tbe calamities and desolstions Whicn
/ hcye 40 often caused US humiliation ana pllteI
| ,a,,s. bnt we remember, too. the tortltuus
| and the patience, the courage anu .no uiia., a
terine trust In God. which charscserlkel .es ou,
reonie in their times of peril and bereavenen NJ
ttnd now we hail the dawn Of brighter day
| tua bless tbe bow Of God, prophenc OF pros
| na,itv and peace, which gilds the retrea.ins
irIcnd We bury the strifes and passions "
tho paet and turn our ihccS W 'no .'.s -. ,,,a
| dient with hope and assurance-yet DO. N ~
sumntuously or irreyercntly, bus win n".noss ,on
| ,,,,st I'm Him without whom nothing - 49,
nofb,pe strong, nothing safe. nothing enuuIns
| As we lay the cornerstone OF this new edincs
,o-d,v we remember that except tho L1,v a,e
pni,d the house they labor IN vain lns. un,,. =.
a.. execp. The Lord keep the city tne ws.:u9,
,,s.,h INT Ia vain. We therefore iook dirocu, =.
| ,'Ihee n lord God, most holy, most niisny
,,ost w. nencifui. and entreat Thy fasor, su'
dance. and powerful piotection.
Is, This building rise without hnrt or har,l @
90 ,Soss on gagged IN its erection Lei i's I'm
s',s,ien marx q new era OF progress, prvspsis.y
,,,s,ire. truth, righteousness. protnoriy Aiia
h1fs; Inv Inv benedicsion rest upon the Mayor an.
oo,,,e;, ~ this city. with oil OF us omcefs sn
so.as,,;sa,ions. municipal and military icy
vas, nr,on 1hy servant chosen 70 SPEAK -, =
nj rnme to-day; lot 10 rest upon on
um,'ns,,,anwealtb. upon lis Governor ana Issis
,s,n,a nnop is judges and masisun.i,es
on ia schools, colleges. and uniseisa'e .i,'..
lo,, tts industrial pursuits. upon ths onsna 'r,
spon sp,.s rh;cb are designed 70 advance tne hs.' -
pI,,s,,si and commercial interests OF Lhe ".
lie and 20 secure Ibeir inteiiectaai anu sp'i''
uai wscss ,ocetSsr. wc bsseech Thee, IN one gfsa
nas =, iInion all the states OF this repao o,a,
l1n nav ,he religion and morality whicn ~ ~
anu nssner of his Country pr0cihimea 70 ~ ,s'
s,oss stiisrs of human happiness nna sas',' 4,
g<es g< sktsh shs GOD and Father OF menxinl ~, N
s.o @ w ~ be ,sc ioundssions of national s'ao''